What Survival Kit Is Right For Me?

When you start your journey into being prepared, you may not know which survival kit is right for you. There are several different types of survival kits that, at first glance, appear very similar to one another. On this page we’ll go over some helpful ways to ensure that you end up choosing a kit that fits all of your needs as well as how to differentiate between some of the most common types of kits available today.

To start off, you should first know what exactly it is that you are preparing for. While this is fairly straightforward, keep in mind the most likely scenarios that could occur in the location you live or work. You should also keep in mind how many people you will be with during the emergency.

Types of Survival Kits

We’ll begin by going over some of the most common types of survival kits. These types include disaster preparedness kits, car emergency kits, wilderness survival kits and children’s survival kits. First we’ll start off with disaster preparedness kits which are designed to assist in surviving after a natural disaster occurs.

Disaster Preparedness Kits

A disaster preparedness kit is simply a pack that generally includes all of the essentials you need to survive the first 72 hours of a natural disaster. The Red Cross and other organizations recommend having 3 days worth of food, water and supplies to assist you until help arrives. Though 72 hours is often the recommended minimum, some kits will have 5 days, 7 days or even 2 weeks worth of supplies depending on the manufacturer.

Disaster Preparedness Kits are available not only based on the amount of supplies they contain, but also the number of people they are intended for. With that said, you could purchase a kit for 2 people, 4 people, 10 people and anywhere in between. The kit you choose is really up to your personal preferences and needs as well as the number of people you’ll likely be with. Make sure your kit has at least 72 hours worth of food and water along with some other basic supplies.

Standard Survival Kits

Standard survival kits often follow the same guidelines as disaster preparedness kits, containing 72 hours worth of food, water and supplies. Many standard survival kits can also be used for natural disasters, but that is not their only use. These types of kits can be used during almost any emergency, and have general supplies that have many different applications. They’re also great for those who live in an area that’s prone to multiple types of natural disasters.

Elite vs Deluxe vs Ultimate Survival Kits

On our website you’ll notice that we offer a few different variations of survival kits. A prime example is found in our 2 Person Survival Kits which are available in standard (no distinction) Elite, Deluxe or Ultimate variations. The kits which do not have a designation, such as the 2 Person Guardian Survival Kit, contains just the bare emergency essentials.

The 2 Person Ultimate Survival Kit on the other hand, has all of the essentials you need along with several additional supplies. This includes extra water, food and supplies that the basic kits do not contain. These types of kits are great for people who want to be fully prepared on all fronts, from hygiene to tools, gear, food and water.

Wilderness Survival Kits

A Wilderness Survival Kit is generally smaller than a standard survival kit or disaster preparedness kit. It is used to compliment the supplies you already have, and includes things like water filters, first aid supplies, paracord and other multi-use items. These types of kits are used by military personnel and avid hikers, backpackers and hunters.

Choosing the Right Amount of Supplies

Selecting a survival kit with the proper amount of supplies is essential when you are trying to narrow down your options. For example, you would not want to buy a basic 1 person survival kit if you have a family of 4. By selecting a kit that has been built for the correct amount of people and contains enough supplies to sustain them for at least 72 hours, you can be properly prepared. From here, it is really just a matter of personal preference.

Some people choose to have slightly more supplies than others, while some prefer to have a basic kit on hand and add additional supplies to compliment it as needed.

Freeze Dried Food vs Ration Bars

So now that we have covered some of the basics, we’ll go over the different types of supplies found in most all survival kits. The first, and maybe most important, is in the area of food. Some kits contain freeze dried foods while others contain emergency food bar rations. There are a few key differences between both options, and knowing what they are before choosing a kit can be very important.

Survival food bars are generally more bland and have a shorter shelf life compared to their freeze dried counterparts. Most all food bars have an extended shelf life of 5-years, which may seem like a long time, but it is just a fraction compared to freeze dried foods. Aside from this, they do get the job done and are slightly more cost-effective.

Freeze dried meals are another common option found in survival kits. This type of food is often packaged in pouches which have a 25 year shelf life (unopened). Meal variations range from popular dishes like pasta primavera and chili to breakfasts like oatmeal. Freeze dried food takes about 20 minutes to prepare on average and requires a stove to be cooked which are often found in survival kits.

Water Pouches vs Filters & Purification Tablets

Water is another survival kit essential and is found inside of all survival kits in one way or another. Some kits include pouched water, while others include water filters or purification tablets. Most survival kits will contain water pouches, as they do not require a water source and are ready to use right out of the pack. This is ideal if you are stranded at home or the office where water might not otherwise be available.

If you live somewhere with a naturally occurring water source or you are preparing a wilderness survival kit, you will likely want a portable water filter, water pouches or a combination of the two. This will provide you with ready-to-drink water as well as a way of purifying water to a drinkable level if you come across a reliable source.

Choosing a Survival Kit

Now that you know all about survival kits and what makes each one different from the next, be sure to view our entire collection of Survival Kits. If at any time you have questions or would like to learn more about our products, feel free to get in touch with us and we’re glad to help. We also offer a build a survival kit tool, so you can customize a kit to meet all of your needs.